Dunn feeling better, but sits out third straight

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Adam Dunn missed his third straight game Friday, as he recovers from an appendectomy performed Wednesday morning. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen believes his powerful designated hitter will need the full five days originally talked about after the surgery and possibly a few more.

"I don't expect him to be back in five days, to be honest with you," said Guillen, who did acknowledge Dunn is feeling better with each day. "He's got to hit. He's got to show me, he got to show the doctors, the trainers, [general manager Ken Williams]. He's got to show a lot of people.

"He's got to show his hitting coach. When everybody says he's ready, he's in the lineup. Obviously, we want him in the lineup, but we've got to be careful."

When asked if he would think about using Dunn as a pinch-hitter on Friday, if the game was on the line, Guillen said he would rather lose one contest than risk losing Dunn for another month.

Ozzie, Vizquel disappointed in Manny's actions

CHICAGO -- Manny Ramirez will go down as general manager Ken Williams' final-month, $1.1 million risk that didn't pay out in 2010 where his White Sox career is concerned.

Serving as the White Sox designated hitter in September and playing hurt, Ramirez produced just one home run and one double over 69 at-bats. He stood out as a consummate pro in the clubhouse, according to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

This short stint for Ramirez on the South Side didn't decrease the Friday clubhouse buzz when Ramirez notified Major League Baseball he was retiring as an active player. Ramirez recently had been notified of an issue under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, but rather than continue with the process under the program, Ramirez's chose to end his career with one hit in 17 at-bats for the Rays this season.

Guillen listed Ramirez with Frank Thomas and Edgar Martinez among the best right-handed hitters of this past generation. But Guillen also pointed out Ramirez's second possible suspension shows MLB remains extremely serious about keeping the game clean.

"It's none of my business, but it shows people that Major League Baseball is after [PED users]," said Guillen of Ramirez, whom the White Sox owe $3.3 million in deferred money in 2013. "They're not playing around. They're letting the players know how tough they're going to be.

"They say they'll be checking and monitoring those guys, and jeez, they're showing how much they want to make this game clean and clear. The circumstances, I don't know why, I don't know how. I just read that he got caught again, so if people think MLB is playing around and they have a pass, they're wrong.

"That's the first thing I told the players in the meetings: They're not playing around," Guillen said. "If you get caught, you should be punished, because now we know for the last five or six years they're after this, and any players that do that, they're taking a risk. They even check me, and I'm not even playing. That's why I have this big belly."

Omar Vizquel played in Cleveland with Ramirez from 1994-2000, when the Indians were a baseball power and Ramirez was hitting the prime of his career. Vizquel explained that Ramirez was feared with runners in scoring position and underrated for how much work he put into his game, but also was a truly funny guy.

All of these different dimensions leave people with different thoughts about Ramirez, although this second violation will be an overriding memory.

"Well, you know, the drug suspension is a really touchy thing these days," Vizquel said. "Everybody knows about the circumstances and the way you are penalized. I guess he realized that he couldn't do it anymore, and he was just trying to find a way out. And he found it.

"A lot of people don't take it really seriously when they talk about Manny Ramirez. There are actions that he does on the field that really don't reflect what type of player he was. But he was just an amazing guy."

Teahen ready to adjust to life at DH

CHICAGO -- Prior to Friday's game against the Rays at U.S. Cellular Field, Mark Teahen had just 37 career at-bats over 12 games started at designated hitter. With Adam Dunn's ongoing recovery from Wednesday morning's appendectomy and Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields on the mound, the left-handed Teahen got a chance to increase his DH total.

Dunn has previously spoken about finding ways as the designated hitter to stay active between at-bats. Teahen's specific plan to combat the down time worked in Friday's 9-7 loss, as he recorded his first three-hit game since Aug. 19, 2010, at Minnesota, and drove in three runs.

"On a night like tonight, just mainly try to stay warm in between at-bats," Teahen said before the game. "Come in and do a little cardio and stay going for the game."

Most of Teahen's at-bats have come as a third baseman (1,440) or a right fielder (971). So, Friday's assignment brought a bit of an adjustment.

"It's different," Teahen said. "I haven't DH-ed a ton, but at the same time, it's nothing too strange."

Humber sees opportunity in Saturday's start

CHICAGO -- With Phil Humber having thrown two innings and 39 pitches in relief during Wednesday's 12-inning victory over the Royals, his start on Saturday against the Rays figures to be limited by pitch count. But the right-hander views this effort as any other starter would, in that it's his game to give the White Sox a chance to win.

"My arm tends to bounce back pretty good," said Humber with a smile, speaking before Friday's contest.

Past evidence would suggest Humber's assessment is on the mark. On Aug. 21 of last season, Humber made a spot start for the Royals against the White Sox and threw 101 pitches over 5 2/3 innings. He came back on April 25 to throw three scoreless innings in relief against the Tigers, covering 55 pitches, and earn the victory.

"Our coaches said that's old-school," said Humber of his Kansas City showing. "My arm is pretty resilient. I'm going to give them all I have for as long as I can go and let them make that decision."

Third to first

 Gordon Beckham produced his third game of at least three hits during the 2011 season on Friday. He had two games of at least three hits in all of 2010.

 The White Sox have been hit a Major League-high six times, while their pitchers have yet to hit a batter.

 Alex Rios is 7-for-20 in his last four games after going 0-for-12 in his first three.